COROT-Exo-7 b

COROT has found the smallest terrestrial planet ever detected outside the Solar System. The amazing planet is less than twice the size of Earth and orbits a Sun-like star. Its temperature is so high that it is possibly covered in lava or water vapour.

COROT-Exo-7 b is not confirmed to be the smallest in mass discovered. COROT-Exo-7b has a diameter that is between 1.75 and 2 times that of the Earth, and orbits its star once every 20 hours. Its mass is less than 11 Earth masses.

The planet is about 455 light-years away in the constellation Monoceros.